"genetic bottleneck" in cheetahs past

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Transcript of "genetic bottleneck" in cheetahs past

A "genetic (population) bottleneck" in cheetahs' past When most mammals, humans included, need a skin graft, doctors must use skin from the patient because the body will reject another's unless they are identical twins. Evidence of genetic bottleneck #1: Skin grafts Enzymes are medium-sized proteins which speed up chemical reactions. For example, in your body, enzymes speed up the burning of food for energy. (Allowing you to eat more meals during the day!) Evidence of genetic bottleneck #2: Enzymes http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/cheetah/?source=A-to-Z http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/1999/08/02/40791.htm It is believed that tens of thousands of years agothe cheetah species under-went a genetic bottleneck leaving a drastic reduction in numbers, forcing them to inbreed to maintain their species. The inbreeding causes a genetic vulnerability that is a cause of the cheetahs rapid decline. Cheetahs of at least four different sub-species once roamed through North America, Asia, Europe and Africa. Recently, the cheetah exists in sub-Saharan Africa as only one sub-species, Acinonyx jubatus, with atiny remnant population barely surviving in northern Iran. http://www.citruscollege.edu/lc/archive/biology/Pages/Chapter15-Rabitoy.aspx Evidence of genetic bottleneck #3: Skulls How do we save these big cats from extinction? The Big Question: http://www.cheetah.org/?nd=genetic_diversity Be knowledgeable (learn more about big cat extinctions) Donate to causes that have background in helping cheetahsVolunteer at a local zoo/sanctuary www.cheetah.org Cheetahs are so alike that skin from one cheetah can be used as a skin graft for a whole other cheetah. The only other mammal known to be able to do this is the pocket gopher. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v381/n6583/pdf/381566b0.pdf http://bio150.chass.utoronto.ca/labs/cool-links/lab5/OBrien_et_al_1985_lab_5.pdf According to the enzymes, humans rate at about 70% identical; which seems a lot until compared to that of cheetahs who rate at about 97% identical. This rate, of 97%, is identical to that of lab rats who have been inbred for 20 generations. Leading to the conclusion that cheetahs have also been inbreeding for a long time. http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/1999/08/02/40791.htm http://www.educationalbiofacts.com/educational-skulls-replica-mammalia-carnivora-felidae.html http://www.humansoul.com/Nature_2_0.html Is your skullsymmetrical? A cheetah's skull is asymmetrical. The more inbred an animal is the less symmetrical their skull will be. That means cheetahs, some where along the line, were forced to inbreed to save their species. http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/1999/08/02/40791.htm A pedigree from an experimentdone by S.J. O'Brien et al. (1985) showingcheetahs that had undergone a skin graft from another cheetah The shaded inareas are the cheetahs thatreceived a skingraft and thedotted lines connect therecipients andthe donors. Eachwas given a skin graft and each gave a skingraft.